FS704 Contractor Survey and Planned Workshops

In 2012 revisions were made to the British Columbia FS704a planting quality inspection system. At that time workshops were offered across the province to support these changes and to draw on the experiences and insights of the local silviculture community in advance of planting season.

As was the case in 2012, the Forests For Tomorrow program and BCTS have teamed up once again with the Western Silviculture Contractor’s Association to offer a one day, office and field, planting quality inspection (FS704a) and microsite training session at five locations across the province.

To assist with these training sessions, the WSCA is asking silviculture contractors to fill in the attached survey about their recent experiences with FS704 inspections and related administration of FFT and BCTS contracts. The anonymous contractor results will be used as part of the planned workshops curricula. The training is intended primarily for government staff and their implementation contractors. Nevertheless, interested silviculture contractors can apply to participate for sessions near them if seats go unfilled. As part of the workshops the WSCA has hired designated contractors to participate and assist in the training by offering contractor perspectives.

Workshop venues will be confirmed shortly. If you are interested in attending please send a note to Kerri Brownie, Stewardship Policy Forester at Kerri.Brownie@gov.bc.ca.

Please note, as stated previously, priority will be given to BCTS, FFT, Silviculture Contracting and Industry staff responsible for the oversight of FFT planting in the upcoming field season. Due to space constraints we are limiting each session to 20 participants.

In advance of the final agenda being circulated I have included the 2012 agenda for your reference, see below. While we anticipate some adjustments to the agenda the principal elements/topics will remain largely the same.

Agenda

Welcome and Announcements – 9:00 am

Self-Introduction of Trainers & Paricipants – 9:00 to 9:10 am

Outline Program for the Day – 9:10 to 9:15 am

Icebreaker Communications Exercise – 9:15 to 9:20 am

Power Point Presentation on FS704 Changes with Q&A Period – 9:20 to 10:20 am

Power Point Presentation on Microsite Selection with Q&A – 10:20 to 11:20 am

Prepare to Head Out to the Field – 11:20 to 11:30 am

Travel to Field (Bring own bagged lunch to eat on route) – 11:30 to Noon

In advance of these sessions we are asking you to fill out a short survey to help ensure the training day is as effective as possible. Please send responses to registration and the survery by March 6, 2015.